Vending machine



Dec. 9,192@ E B. E. KIEFER ET AL 'VENDING HACHQINE l Fned'nov. 19, 1921 4 sheets-sheet 1 ...ri Il Bernard E-Thmdon me. e, 1924.

B. E. KIEFER ET AL vENnING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .2q- 26 Z4- Zz i9 14 49 l y /7 551s .Bruce B- KiP/fon' .Bernard E Thfmdzow.

B. E. KIEFER ET AL VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nav. 1e, 1921' ltlatented Q, i924..

v was] was vom en were o, refs-i ver N all? a Iideali BRUCE E. KlEFER ANB EERNLRIJ E. THXTON, Ol? i/ iS-IFINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBJA.

ha llilla'tr MACHINE.

j" application led November i9, 1921. Serial No. 516,452.

To @ZZ tij/mm if mog/f concern.'

lie it known that we, lit-tron E. Kieran and liruninn lil. error?. citizens of the Tlnited Stat s, resic. v' anillas-in ngton, in the District et Columbia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Vend ing; it ichines, et which the following is a speeilication.

Urn invention relates to machines for l vendingrnerchai'idise and has for its pri- .mary object the provision ol novel means whereby an article or a package may be delivered alter a proper coin has been ce* posited within the machine. fi 'further obje t ot the invention is to provide a novel mechanism whereby, upon the deposit ot the proper coin, the actuation ot the apparatus will be possible. The 'invention also eelis to improve generally the construction and arrangement ot the parte oi: a vending machine to the end that the el eration n'iay be siziiplitied and the durability o t the machine prolonged .vithout any increase in the cost of' production over machines now generally employed. The invention illustrated in the aecompanji" drawi gs and consists in certain novel A'eatnres which will be particularly i'iointed ont in claims ollowine a detailed so description.

ln the drawingslliggfure l is a perspective view ot an ap- )aratns embodying our invention;

2 is vertical longitudinal section e saine with parts in elevation; zg 3 is a view partly in transverse section and partly in elevation;

4t 's a detail plan view of the operatin. mechanism; Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section throng-h the delivery chute and the parts cooperating therewith, showing); the normal position oit the parts;

Figi'. is a view similar to Fig. 5, but

35 of t e al parts when an article is delivered;

7 is an enlarged detail section oit' the coin:receivingI and delivering` dish;

8 is a plan View of the coin disks;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the parts actuated innnediatel7 bv the coin disln, after proper coins have been delivered into the same.

ln carrying out our invention, We emsliowing the position assumed by the sev-y `Vi I ploy a pedestal l which may be of the usual or any desired conliguration and is preferably ot metal so as to possess the desired strength and durability. Upon this pedestal, we secure a casing,` 2 which is likewise preferably ot metal so as to possess the desired strength and durability. rlhe casing` is illustrated as provided with a hinged cover or top 3 equipped with a lock t whereby, atter the articles or packages to be vended are placed within the casing, the cover may be locked thereto so as to prevent. unwarranted access to the interior ot the casing. The lock l may be of any welllmown type and the shape of the casing and the disposition of the cover mav be varied Within wide limits without involving` any departure from our invention. Within the casing 2 and upon the bottom plate of the saine, we secure a post 5, upon the upper end of which is pivotally mounted the main operating lever G, the said lever extending' longitudinally of the casing,- and being provided at its rear end with a longitudinal slot v engaged by the wrist pin 8 ot a crank 9 which is carried by a transverse rock shaft l() journaled in standards ll which are secured upon the bottom plate ot the casing,- near the back wall thereof. as will be readily understood. The tulcrum or pivot 12 ot' the lever G is fitted in a vertical slot 13 in the post 5 and may, therefore, be adjusted vertically so that the throw of the lever may be nicely regulated and made to conform to the sizes ot' the coins with which it is intended to have the machine operated. rlhe front shorter arm of the main lever is disposed immediately over the coin-receiving disks or carriers M which are secured upon the operating shaft. l5 adjacent the front, wall oii the casina'. said shaft beine' liotumnled in said front. wall and in the post 5, as will' be readily understood upon reference to 2. The operating,` shaft l5 projects through the front wall ot the casing and is equipped with a lrnurled knob or other torni ot handle 16. as clearlv shown. whereby the customer, after depositing` the coin, may operate the shaft so as to actuate the delivering` mechanism. tbviously, the shatt 15 is to be alwavs turned in one direction and to prevent backward movement thereof, we provide a ratchet wheel 17 lined upon the shaft immediately adiacent the front wall of the casing and engaged bv a pawl 18 pivoted upon said wall or upon any other iixed part ot the apparatus and held to the ratchet wheel bv a spring 19 in an obvious manner. In the illustrated embodiment of our invention. two coin disks or carriers 11i are provided but it will be understood that the number ot coin disks will depend upon the price of the article or package to be vended and the number of coins which must be inserted in the machine to insure deliverv. Leading' from the exterior ot the casing to the respective coin disks or carriers are coin chutes Q0 which communicate at their upper or outer ends with slots Q1 formed in the casing to facilitate the insertion ot the coins. The lower or inner ends of the coin chutes are disposed immediately adjacent the respective coin disks or carriers so that coins deposited through the slots 2i will pass directly to the disks or carriers. In the periphery ot each disk or coin carrier. we provide a circumierentially extending groove 22 which gradually .increases in depth rearwardly, in the direction ot rotation of the disk. as clearly shown in Fig. 7, whereby al coin, indicated at 23, dropping upon the periphery of the disk will be positivelv engaged and guided to the coin pocket or holder 24 with which the disk or carrier is equipped. Vlfhile the coin pocket may be simply a recess formed in the disk. as shown at 25. we prefer to provide interchangeable holders 2li which may conveniently be metallic blocks ot' proper shape and dimensions to tit within the recesses Q5 and having bores 26 therethrough of proper width to receive the coins which will permit the operation oit the machine. The front end wall ot the holder 24 is notched. as shown at 27. so that, when the holder is placed in the recess 25,the notch 27 will. torina continuation of the groove to permit the coin to enter the holder, and, to support the coin in the holder in the proper position to actuate the main lever 6, shoulders 28 are formed on the inner surfaces of the front and rear end walls of the holders upon which the coin will rest, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The bore 26 extends entirely through the holder so that. it' a coin smaller than the designated coin is inserted. it will drop to the bottom of the holder and upon rotation of the disk or carrier will pass under the lever G without actuating the same and, as the rotation ot the disk continues. will drop through the. outer end of the holder and be caught in the coin box which mav be of anv desired form and located at a proper point within the casing to receive the coins from the coin carriers or disks. inasmuch as the particular torm or arrangement of the coin box is not essential to our invention, we have omitted the illustration of the same Jfrom the Laisser drawings in order than the parts appearing inthe drawings maybe shown more clearly. The coin holders Qelcontorni to the recesses Q5 in their outline and dimensions so as to tit snugly therein and they are adjustably held within the recesses bv set screws QS) which are inserted in the bodies ot the disks upon chords oit the same so that their inner ends will bind upon the rear end walls oil' the holders, as clearly shown in l? ig. T. This arrangement permits us to adjust the holders radially ot' the coin carrier;4 so that the proper engagement ot the coins with the lever G will be etl'ected.

Upon the rock shaft l0 between the ends thereof, we secure ay pusher or crank 5i() which bears upon the rear end ot a plunger rod 3l extending forwardly and slidahly supported in a bearing 32 at the upper end of a post or standard 35i secured upon the bottom plate oit the casing 2.,. as shown and as will be readily understood. The rear end of the bearing 82 is counter-bored, as shown at 34, so as to accommodate the `front. end of a spring 343 which coiled around the plunger rod 3l between the ilioiiward end of the counter-bore Si and an abutment it secured upon the plunger rod. The spring. by its expansion, serves to hold the plunger rod in constant engagement with the pusher or crank 30 so that the plunger rod will respond instantly to the movements ol' the pusher. To the iront end oli the plunger rod 3l, the plunger 3l' is secured and this plunger is mounted to slide upon a platform 38 and between guides 39 at the rear corners of the said platform. the said platform being secured to and extendingl between siamlardi-i 40 erected upon the bottom plato ot the casing 2 and having their upper ends connected by brackets 4l. which are so lornicd as to present internal shoulders ft2 whereby.v ilu-y are adapted to support a container lil in which the articles or packages to be tended may be placed in superposed relation. (hir machine is intended more particularly l'or vending' cigars, cigarettes. wrapped chocolate bars. and similar merchandise. Vln the present instance, we have illustrated cigars lflwhich are supplied in small boxes so that only one layer or row ot cigars will be tur nished in each box. In fitting such boxed cigars in the apparatus to be vemled. we remove one side wall ot the box and then place the box between the brackets ll so that the open side thereot will become the bottom and the cigars may then gravitate to the platform 38. The 'lront bracket -l-l is ot such proportions and so arranged lthat its lower edge will be spaced above the plat torni 38 a distance sutlicient to permit the passage oi only a single cigar. This single cigar will be pushed through the space or opening between the bracket and the platform b v the action of the plunger 37 and the plunger will be equal in height to the diameter ot the cigar so that the second cigar will be supported by the plunger when the latter is in the delivery position, as clearly shown in F (i. ris the plunger' is withdrawn, however, the support for the cigars will be removed and the entire column will drop so that the lowest cigar will then rest upon the platform 38. Hinged to the iront edge ot the platform 38 is a baille or trap door 45 which normally extends across or nearly across the delivery chute 46 which extends from the. bracket 4l to the bottom oi the casing 2 and there communicates with a holder or receptacle 47 depending trom the bottom oi the casing and having its irontr side open, as shown at 48, to permit the customer to remove the delivered cigar. As the plunger 37 moves forward to deliver' the purchased cigar, the baille or trap door will be swung downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6 and to accommplish this movement ot' the baille, we secure to the under side thereof a bracket 49 which is in the 'form oi a slotted arcuate arm extending downwardly and forwardly :trom the baille. The slot in this arm is engaged by a pin 50 at the iront end ot a lever 5l which is iulcrumed between its ends, as at 52, upon a` post 53 erected on the bottom plate of the casing- 2, the rear end oi the said lever being extended upwardly from the tulcrum and carrying a reaiwvardly ei;- t-eiuling knuckle member 54. Pivoted in the member is a mating knuckle member 55 which is connected by a link 56 with a third knuckle member 57, the said knuckle 57 being pivotally litted within a mating knuckle' inenioer 58 which is carried by the lower end oiE a goose neck pusher or finger 59 secured to and depending from the plunger rod fil. rlllhe knuckles and the link 56 connectingl the same, together with the lever 5l constitute a. toggle connection between the pusher linger 59 and the slotted bracket 49, the oper ation ot which will be readily understood upon reference to Figs. 5 and 6 olf the drawy ings. As the plunger moves forwardly, the pusher 59 exerts a forward pressure upon the knuckles and the connection between the saine which is converted into a rocking movemovement of the lever 5l, the pin 50 carried by said lever being thereby swung downwardly and forwardly in the slot ot the bracket 59 so as to exert a downward pull thereon and swingl the baille plate 45 from the position shown in 5 to that shown in Fig. (i so that the obstruction in the delivery tube will be removed and the cigar or other article may roll through the tube to the receptacle or holder 47. Ot course, upon the reverse movement of the plunger, the baille will be returned to its normal position, and it will be understood, oi course, that the slot in the bracket 49 is curved eccentric to the lever 5l in order that the desired pushing or pullin olf the lever upon the Abraclvet wil tained.

llilhen the price oi. the article to be vended may be represented bj a single coin, such as a dime, one olf the coin slots 2l .may be closed by a suitable plug or the coin disk or carrier in alineinent with said slot may be removed. The holder 24 in the coin disk or carrier which .is to be utilized as the actuating agent is adjusted radially oi' the carrier so that the coin in the holder will project beyond the periphery oi1 the carrier the distance necessary to impart to the main lever ti sufficient vibration to obtain the desired results. lWhen the price oi" the article to be vended requires the use oil two coins, as, l'or instance, when the article. is to be sold tor li'lteen cents, and it is necessary to insert a dime and a nickel, two coin carriers are, ot course, employed. These carriers will be so arranged 'that the smaller coin will inipart an initial movement to the lever o while the larger coin will travel slightly in rear of the smaller coin and will impart a greater movement to the lever. l/Vhen the parts are properly adjusted, the initial movement given by the coin of lesser dian'ietei.' will be insutiicient to impart a complete working stroketo the plunger and il the initial movement be not given the lever, the coin oi? greater diameter will impinge against: the side of the lever and stop the movement olf the coin carrier. Consequently, both coins must be inserted as neither alone will effect operation ot the delivery mechanism. rllhcse relative working positions oi the coins will be readily understood upon reilerence to Figs. 4 and S ot the d awings As the front end oi the lever (l is raised by the coins riding under the saine, the rear end of the lever will, oli course, be depressed and will swing the crank i) downwardly so that the shalt l() will be rocked and the pusher 30 swrng forwardly. rThe plunger rod and the parts attached 'thereto will be moved forwardly by the action oiC the pusher or crank 3() against the tension oi' the spring 35 which will be corniiressed and will be housed within the counterbored end of the bearing 32 while in the coni-- pressed state. The pusher linger t9 and the plunger 37 will, likewise, more forwardly and the purchased article will be delivered. as previously described. rlhc rotation olf the coin disks is effected by the purchaser rotating the knob or handle l@ in an obvious manner and the purchaser will, o'tf course, continue the rotation until the purchased article appears at the opening 48. rllhe time required for the article to appear at the opening 48 will define such an interval that the rotation of the coin carriers during that interval will bring the coins to a point below the horizontal diameter of the carriers, whereupon the coins will, of course, roll 'from the carriers end be caught iii the coin box. lt will be readily seen upon reference to Fig. 5 that access o the container through the opening e8 is prevented by the norinzil position ot the baille plate el and es bachwerd rotetion olf the coin carrie prevented by the ratchet l? and the pziwl engaging the Sinne the manipulation of' the mechanism t cruise n second actuation ot the mein lever G by a single coin will be prevented. llt will be reedly noted that here provided a very simple and conipnctly arri nged mechanism which will be positive in its ect-ion and by reneoii of its simplicityv 'f' not be ant oi 't ot order. The looe t dinzil slot i the moin lever G accommodates the varying K angular relation the lerer to the cre. il and the slot l?) in the post permits line rulc 'rin oli said lever to be adjusted vertically so thi t the notion muy be Ver i aceurately rr lated. This adjust ment dt the tulcriim oil: the mein lever will he desirable at times in order to obtain the proper movement ot the iiliin to el'lect deliyery ot the articles to be rended but otherwise the only change necessary in the operfitting` mechanism to permit the vending` o'l yerious articles is to substitute one containei for another. The various posts or standards which are utilized supports for the working; parte may be oli any preferred or convenient construction and the brackets ll which support the article container muy be removable so that brackets ot various outlines may be interchenge:ibly used.

The front of the easing Q is provi ded with i glazed View opening` GO so that an intend Ang purchaser will be ene-bled to inform hiinself whether or not the container is empty.

Having' thus described the invention. what is claimed sie new is:

l. ln i vending' machine, the combination ot ineens for supporting` articles to be yended Ineens for delivering` one ot the articles, e. lever operatively connected with said delivering means., e plurality ot concentric coin carriers disposed below one end ot seid lever end transversely thereto to receive coins in stepped relation, end ineens tor simultaneously actuating; seid coin carriers whereby coins deposited therein will be successively caused to .impinge upon and ectnate the lever.

2. ln a vending machine, the combination ot article-delivery ineens, a lever arranged to ectuete seid article-delivery ineens., :i coin carrier disposed below one end ot the seid lever, and a coin holder fitted vin the coin carrier and adjustable radially therein he lorca' to actuele groom :ino nininnicntiiigi tl'iermvitln sriid coin holder con? rooted to cilindro both lares ot :i coi.: :ind support the .snow cdn'ewise rl eby the coin will ride :ir-rms l? llll `in chiite Liiwainrml :ilioic the io roitial alineN ci rciiin l'ei'enti :illy ci;H

under ,eine oit the lever lo actuel same, end coiircarrviiigf' dish: un. i with the said ljlt'Vt.

i lending` machine? the combination i carrier pi'rniideifl with :i radial recess olli-e `i i thiiouojh its surface, and :i coin holder lidine; snugly in said recess :ind liarin@l o coin-receiving; bore openingy through both its endsr the liront :ind reni' walls ol said bore lacing: provided with shoulders whereby to support :i coin.

5. ln zi rend'ngr machine, the conibination oit article-delivery ineans, :i roch slizil't arranged transversely to sfiid means and nifrzingrd to acliinte the saine, an opstonding eienli on the roel; shzrlt, :i lerer tub ci'iiined between its enl and luirlnir its tz., rear end engaged with the crnnlr on the roel: shaft, the lever :ind the :iiticlede`lirei'y ineens beinearranged side by side, :i rotetuble coin carrier nrrongre l below the l'i'ont end oli said lerei' and transversely thereto whereliiy a coin in the carrier will he faiised to rif e across the under side olf the lercr to actunte the seine, :ind a coin chute :rhone und leading; to seid carrier.

6. lin :i vending` niarcliiiu-i, the combinetion oit nrticle-deliyery meliusv o` post, a, lever tulcriimed between its ends upon seid post, the tuleruin beingvertically :uljustziblcT oneretiye connections between the rar end ol' the lever a id the artiele-delirerod incanti, and e coin ferrie-r airongred below the Vtrout end et the lever and adailited to :nfnale the lover through un inserted coin.

ln testimony whereof wi :,llii; our signatures.

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